The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-04

Charles James Fox was in Parliament
at nineteen.
The great Cromwell left the University
of Cambridge at eighteen.
John Bright never was at any school
day after he was fifteen years old.
Gladstone was in Parliament at twenty
two, and at twenty-four was Lord of the
Treasury.
Lord Bacon graduated at Cambridge
when sixteen, and was called to the bar
at twenty-one.
Peel was in Parliament at twenty one,
and Palmerston was Lord Of the Admi-
ralty at twenty-three.
Henry Clay was in the Senate Of the
United States at twenty-nine, contrary to
the Constitution.
John Hampton, after graduating at
Oxford, was a student at law in the Inner
Temple at nineteen.
Gustavus Adolphus assembled the
throne at sixteen; before he was thirty
four he was one OF the great rulers Of
Europe.
Judge Story was at Harvard at fifteen,
in Congress at twenty-nine, and Judge OF
the Supreme Court Of the United States
at thirty-two. i.. ..-.l....
Martin Luther had become largely dis
tinguished at twenty-four, and at tifty-six
had reached the topmost round of his
worldwide fame.
Conde conducted a memorable cam
paign at seventeen, and at twenty-five he
and Turenne also, were OF the most Illus
trious men of their times.
william II. Seward commenced the
practice of law az twenty-one, and at
thirty-one was President OF q State Con-
a,d or thirty (nnvarpnr Of
| New York.
T. Washington was distinguished Colo
mel in the army at twenty-five, early in
| public affairs, commander of the forces
at forty-three, and President at fifty
| seven.
| Maurice of Ssxony died at thirty-two
conceded to have been one of the pro-
foundest statesmen and one OF the ablest
| Generals which Christendom had seen.
Napoleon at twenty-five commanded
the army of Italy. At thirty he was not
only one of the most illustrious Generals
of all time, but one of tho great law
givers of the world. At forty-six he saw
Waterloo. .'..
The great Leo X. was Pope at thirty
eight. Having finished his academic
| training, he took the office OF Cardinal at
eighteen-only twelve months younger
than was Charles James Fox when he
entered Parliament.
Only one civilian out OF the Presidents
of this country gained his first election
| after he was sixty, and that was James
Buchanan. The chance for the Presi-
| dency after sixty is small and growing
less,
| William Pitt entered the ministry at
fourteen, was Chancellor of the Exche-
quer at twenty-five, Prime Minister at
twenty-four, and so continued for twenty
years, and when thirty-iive was the most
powerful unorowned head in Europe.
From the earliest years of Queen Eliza
beth to the latest OF Queen Victoria, Eng
land has had scarcely an able statesman
who did not leave the University by the
time he was twenty, and many of them
left at an earlier age.
The late Lord Beaconsfeld left tn
cloister and entered the great world earl
-as did John Bright commenced
his political career by writing book a
seventeen, in which he predicted this
he would be Prime Minister.
Hamilton was in Kings College at six
teen when seventeen he made a nota
BILE address on public affairs TO the cit
zens of New York; at twenty he was il
trusted with most important mission
General Gates, was in Congress at twenty
five, and Secretary Of the Treasury
thirty-tve,
| John Quincy Adams, at the age {
fourteen, was Secretary to Mr.. Dam
then Minister at the Russian Court ;
thirty he was himself Minister TO Pru,
sia at thirty-ive he was Minister [
Russia at foity-eight he was Minister I
England; at iiity-six he was Secretary
State, and President at ifty-seven.
There have been twenty-five Pres
dents of the United States. Five of thel
were elected at fifty seven, and six n
tanned that great Office before the age
fifty. Three military men past sixt
have been elected two died very so d
and the other was General Jackson, an
he was but sixty-one when elected.
Jonathan Edwards acquired early r
nown was the greatest metaphyslcian
America, and as unsurpassed by any oil
in Europe. He commenced the readI
OF Latin when six years old. At ten
wrote remarkable paper upon the il
mortality Of the soul. At the ago
thirteen he entered Yale College, whe
he graduated four years later
General Grant was elected Preside
at forty-six. But when very YOU
man, in the Mexican war, he so disti
guished himself at the battle of Melil
del Rey that General Scott named hi
for promotion on the field, and at I
: storming of Chapultepec his courage al
} ability caused him to be specially co
mended by General Worth, and for the
) young acts OF skill and valor he "
[ made Captain in the regular army.
) was but thirty-nine when he gained |
, victory at Fort Donelson, and only fort
! one when he took Vicksburg.